Brockovich team unveils LeRoy findings

LeROY, N.Y. (WIVB) - Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has been keeping a close eye on the situation in LeRoy for many months now. That's where more than a dozen girls came down with those mysterious tick-like symptoms last year.

Brockovich wasn't in town Wednesday night, but her chief investigator was, and he had a message for the parents of the teens whose struggle was seen across the country. About a hundred people turned out to hear Bob Bowcock assess the case.

"We don't rule things in, we only rule things out. I'm happy to report I think they're all doing much better. I hear nothing but positive things," Bowcock said.

Lana Clark's daughter was one of the girls who suffered from the tic-like disorder. She says her daughter has gotten better. However, she still think it's possible that the environment may have brought on the disorder, saying it has not been ruled out.

MORE | Because of the heightened concern over environmental contamination, the LeRoy School District conducted extensive testing of the area. Those tests found no environmental cause of the illness the girls suffered from

Bowcock said, "I have not ruled out anything medical, psychological or environmental."

The environmental investigator urged parents to report any further symptoms to the Healthy Schools Network. He also urged residents to keep an eye on cancer rates around the 1971 train derailment in LeRoy, which leak the chemical TCE.

"In the spring when the thaw comes, the water table rises and pushes the TCE up through the soil, and you get to breath it in your homes," Bowcock said.

Mary Lou Follette lives right next to the derailment site and has no illnesses. But John Nocastro helped in the cleanup 40 years ago and now has mouth cancer. He has always wondered if the derailment played a role in his cancer.

LeRoy is one of many stops for Bowcock. He admits he hits two states every week, bringing attention to anything that might be an environmental concern. And sometimes, those fears are unfounded.

Chris Vescovi said, "It's so hard to determine what's really important anymore and what isn't, and what is part of his job to make people aware."

In the end, some were relieved by Wednesday's meeting, but some weren't. Bowcock is now off to Watertown for an environmental concern there.

As for the conditions of the girls who suffered from tic-like symptoms, the Dent Institute determined that was psychological, not environmental. The train derailment site is regularly tested by the EPA, which never found a cancer cluster in that area.